The US-Gulf Joint Working Group on Iran, composed of Cooperation Council countries and senior US officials, held its third meeting yesterday, Wednesday, at the General Secretariat Headquarters in Riyadh.
At the meeting, the working group reaffirmed the long-term partnership between the United States and the GCC countries and the common determination to contribute to achieving regional security and stability through a strategic partnership between the GCC countries and the United States.
The United States and GCC member states also condemned Iran’s ongoing destabilizing policies, including its support for terrorism, the use of advanced missiles, cyber weapons, and unmanned aerial systems, and their deployment in the region and around the world. partners have used these Iranian weapons to carry out attacks against civilians, critical infrastructure and international shipping.”
The United States and the GCC states also expressed “grave concern over the growing military engagement between Iran and state and non-state actors, including Iran’s continued supply of conventional weapons, advanced missiles and unmanned aerial systems to the Houthis, which has prolonged the conflict in Yemen and exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe there.” “, believing that “the continued proliferation of these weapons by Iran and their supply to other parties, whether governmental or non-governmental, poses a serious security threat to the region and the world as a whole.”
The panel also stressed that “the notable progress in the Iranian nuclear program documented by the International Atomic Energy Agency, chief among which is the production of highly enriched uranium, has exceeded Iran’s civilian needs and is a source of a dangerous escalation of regional and international tensions.”
Both sides called on Iran to “immediately change its position, stop its nuclear provocations, seriously participate in the diplomatic process, and cooperate fully with the IAEA in investigations regarding particles of nuclear material found at undeclared sites in Iran, in accordance with Iran’s obligations.” on nuclear safeguards.
The United States reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The United States and GCC member states expressed their “commitment to expanding the scope of defense cooperation between the two sides and interoperability to enhance their ability to limit Iran’s ability to engage in destabilizing activities and deter it from engaging in aggressive actions in the future.”
They emphasized that “diplomacy is the preferred method of countering Iran’s destabilizing policies and nuclear escalation in a sustainable manner”, emphasizing that “if the Iranian leadership chooses a better alternative, it will contribute to a more secure and stable region for the benefit of the Iranian people.”
Both sides called on the international community to comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions prohibiting the transfer of arms and materiel, emphasizing the importance of following up on accountability mechanisms in this regard.
Source: “Okaz”